Thought

Funeral

January 7, 2011

Today Mar and I went to the funeral of Richard Holtry.  He was a church friend of ours.  The funeral was in Lyons.

Fist, my thoughts about Richard.  He was always a good friend for Mar and I.  He was always willing to help in any way possible.  We got to know him when he worked with Mar on the Service committee.  He always did more that his share of the work on whatever activity was underway.  But there was also a darker side of Richard.  He was injured in the Vietnam war, shot in the head.  He was repaired, but he felt that the metal plate they put in his head affected him.  He would get very gruff - and mean - with some people.  He isolated many an a few he physically threatened.  His was completely estranged from his family.  His was a world of opposition in all things.  But for our part, he was a friend.

Funerals also give us, at least those of us who are older, a time to reflect on how we are doing.  Mar and I did a little reflecting during this one.  Enough said about that.

Thanks for being a friend, Richard.  We, Mar and I will miss you.